I had been planning on finally buying my AR15 this fall and this is sure to drive the prices up.

I feel like I've been hearing about this AR-15 of yours for years. You're telling me you haven't managed to cobble together one by now? You could have fabricated one by hand at this point with all the time you've taken deciding on parts.

I feel like I've been hearing about this AR-15 of yours for years. You're telling me you haven't managed to cobble together one by now? You could have fabricated one by hand at this point with all the time you've taken deciding on parts.

It's just like how long it took me to take Gomey's advice and buy a used guitar. I feel there's so much info and choices it's easy to go wrong and I've not devoted the brain power to making a good decision yet.

Just buy a stripped lower and deal with the rest later. That's the only part that's technically considered a firearm by the feds anyway. Even with an AR-15 ban, you'll be fine to complete your build at your continued molasses pace.

It's just like how long it took me to take Gomey's advice and buy a used guitar. I feel there's so much info and choices it's easy to go wrong and I've not devoted the brain power to making a good decision yet.

Naturally, we should take a look at the US to get a sense of what is happening there during this time period. According to the WHO data, murder rates increased significantly in the United States during the 1960, hitting a peak of 10.5 homicides per 100,000 in 1974. After a series of ups and downs during the 1980s and early 90s, homicides began a significant decline:

Not to get all victim-blamey, but the overall homicide rate is not really as relevant here.

I know that these kinds of major shootings are a very small part of the overall homicide rate, but a large number of actual homicides involve specific targets. Gang violence sucks for the bystanders who get caught by it...but I don't feel to bad when they shoot each other. And for things like jilted lovers, revenge killings, domestic violence...sad to say it, but those killers who really want their individual victim dead are going to be able to do it with or without guns.

What is terrifying about these sorts of shootings is that they seem to be growing more prevalent, and the victims are often random or only tangentially related. That's scary (even though the odds of it happening to you are very low), and it is enabled by access to firearms and a pile of bullets.

If you had to kill 50 people with a knife, it would be difficult. If you had to kill 50 people with a bomb, you could do it...but the authorities actually seem to be pretty good at catching bomb builders (maybe because nobody cares about their right to bear explosive arms, and thus the feds have a decent amount of tools to limit access to bomb making materials).

Just buy a stripped lower and deal with the rest later. That's the only part that's technically considered a firearm by the feds anyway. Even with an AR-15 ban, you'll be fine to complete your build at your continued molasses pace.

This is good advice, but part of me wonders if a new AWB could cast a larger net and somehow include parts and accessories. I'm not sure how they would do that, exactly, but it's certainly possible. If the feds dictate which part is the actual firearm, then the feds could change that, naturally.

This is good advice, but part of me wonders if a new AWB could cast a larger net and somehow include parts and accessories. I'm not sure how they would do that, exactly, but it's certainly possible. If the feds dictate which part is the actual firearm, then the feds could change that, naturally.

Wrong. This thinking is what is causing this price inflation on guns and ammo. Congress will never allow it. SCOTUS has never been more gun friendly. Obviously with Scalia dead, it is a bit more of a toss-up, but there won't be any 5-3 decisions restricting gun rights.

This is good advice, but part of me wonders if a new AWB could cast a larger net and somehow include parts and accessories. I'm not sure how they would do that, exactly, but it's certainly possible. If the feds dictate which part is the actual firearm, then the feds could change that, naturally.

Wrong. This thinking is what is causing this price inflation on guns and ammo. Congress will never allow it. SCOTUS has never been more gun friendly. Obviously with Scalia dead, it is a bit more of a toss-up, but there won't be any 5-3 decisions restricting gun rights.

Why is this so difficult for people to see? I think some folks just like to think there is some secret plot to take their guns. Sure there are some people who would like to see a gun ban but there is no evidence that this country is remotely interested in such a thing

Wrong. This thinking is what is causing this price inflation on guns and ammo. Congress will never allow it. SCOTUS has never been more gun friendly. Obviously with Scalia dead, it is a bit more of a toss-up, but there won't be any 5-3 decisions restricting gun rights.

I didn't say an AWB was imminent. I was speaking about an AWB that could happen in the future. The idea that congress will "never" allow another AWB is a lofty assumption.